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E60 / E61 (2004 - 2010) BMW 5-Series E60 Sedan was first seen in the Unites States in the fall of 2003 with a 2004 Model Year designation. The E61 wagon followed shortly there after. The E60/E61 5 series is now available as a 528i, 528xi, 535i, 535xi, 550i and a 535xi sports wagon! -- View the E60 Wiki

My car (2008 535xi), is now due for its first service since I bought it in August. It is just shy of 50,000 miles now. It actually contacted the dealer to tell them that its due for service (I hate that!). Anyway when I took it to the service clinic a month ago they told me that the comp shows that it is due soon for service to include the oil change, Intake Silencer (Air filter?) and spark plugs!! Then the service guy said wonder why spark plugs for they are not scheduled till 100,000 on this car typically. He believes the dealer by my house (I took it to a one further away for the service clinic) when I took it in last time there coded the information wrong. I doubt I need to change the spark plugs so soon, but the message I got from the local area dealer asks me to come in and do that along with the oil change and instake silencer. Thoughts? It might be my chance to catch the local dealer with them trying to scam me if they insist on spark plugs now!

That makes more sense. Im seeing consistent 45K miles references online. Funny thing nothing in the owner manual, or at least I could not find any references for maintenance schedule. I just wanted to make sure that the local dealer is not trying to take advantage of me in that regards....thanks

That makes more sense. Im seeing consistent 45K miles references online. Funny thing nothing in the owner manual, or at least I could not find any references for maintenance schedule. I just wanted to make sure that the local dealer is not trying to take advantage of me in that regards....thanks

as a disabled engineer, the whole computer thing just "bugs the snot out of me": in engineering we used to have a saying: "The system is slave not the master". My 530xi is out of warranty, so I am just doing my own thing with it. And my car doesn't even have an oil dipstick.........you check the oil level thru the LCD. I am weary of BMW thinking it's owners are stupid. There is no "Under the Hood" section in the manual; Not too many specifics as it relates to services............so I keep a manual log of whatever service I do myself and ignore the LCD. Then I have a friend at FCAC re-set the LCD for me.

as a disabled engineer, the whole computer thing just "bugs the snot out of me": in engineering we used to have a saying: "The system is slave not the master". My 530xi is out of warranty, so I am just doing my own thing with it. And my car doesn't even have an oil dipstick.........you check the oil level thru the LCD. I am weary of BMW thinking it's owners are stupid. There is no "Under the Hood" section in the manual; Not too many specifics as it relates to services............so I keep a manual log of whatever service I do myself and ignore the LCD. Then I have a friend at FCAC re-set the LCD for me.

As an ex Ford engineer, this bothers the hell out of me too. I bought my car in August (first BMW), and just realized last month it doesnt have a simple dipstick and now no clear reference to a "maintenance schedule"....

I know you are not addressing me. there two kinds of BMW owners: "Enthusiasts" & those who drive them to demonstrate their "Status or Success Level". My Dad retired from the local BMW Dealership, but he never owned one.............he was "Caddy" kind of guy and hated BMW's (even though he sold plently of them).

I know you are not addressing me. there two kinds of BMW owners: "Enthusiasts" & those who drive them to demonstrate their "Status or Success Level". My Dad retired from the local BMW Dealership, but he never owned one.............he was "Caddy" kind of guy and hated BMW's (even though he sold plently of them).

I am not addressing anyone in particular with the idiot comment - but the SA that told me this was coming down from "above" that the econobox gauge was being phased in as a replacement for the oil temp, not because it has any real value, but to stem the flow of "my car is overheating" complaints from dingbat drivers who can't...

a. read the text on the gauge
b. open page 1 of the manual and read through the information provided to them
c. google "bmw temperature gauge"
d. listen to their SA

I'm actually thinking of doing something to cover my economy gauge - I didn't want it - and it annoys me waving all over the place in traffic... I didn't buy the car to hyper-mile and if I was trying to get great MPG, I'd have bought a mini or a smart-car...

For the SA to even hint at people who complain about temperature of engine is a clear indication to me that there are more than enough "idiot" BMW drivers out there.

That I cannot replace the "lost gauge" with a reading on idrive is even more annoying - it seems there is a hidden menu option to get your engine temp (not the same as oil temp of course) - what a joke...

I have yet to encounter this issue............but when and if I do, it will most likely annoy me the same way it does you. I remember when they first started with EGR lights on cars; I was younger then, and had T-Bird. When the EGR light came on, it bothered so much that I put a piece of black electrical tape over it so I didn't have to look at it. Fortunately, the light was located in place that allowed my tape to go un-noticed. Would chat more, but have to run......

the biggest problem that people have with replacing plugs is caused by virtue of their inabililty to seat and thread the plugs properly, (in what, for lack of a better term, is that the plugs are typically seated in a "deep well") and even if you use a socket wrench with an extension, you can't tell if they are properly seated. The way to avoid this is to use a rubber hose (appox. 8-9" long) and place one end of the hose over the tip of your spark plugs...........and then, along with flashlight, extend the plug while attached to the hose into the deep well, and turn the hose in order start the threading of plug. once you have started the initial threading correctly, remove the hose and then use your socket wrench and the extension to tighten the plug. After that, it's just a matter of re-attaching the ignition wires. Do one plug at a time, so as to avoid getting the ignition wires co-mingled.

the biggest problem that people have with replacing plugs is caused by virtue of their inabililty to seat and thread the plugs properly, (in what, for lack of a better term, is that the plugs are typically seated in a "deep well") and even if you use a socket wrench with an extension, you can't tell if they are properly seated. The way to avoid this is to use a rubber hose (appox. 8-9" long) and place one end of the hose over the tip of your spark plugs...........and then, along with flashlight, extend the plug while attached to the hose into the deep well, and turn the hose in order start the threading of plug. once you have started the initial threading correctly, remove the hose and then use your socket wrench and the extension to tighten the plug. After that, it's just a matter of re-attaching the ignition wires. Do one plug at a time, so as to avoid getting the ignition wires co-mingled.

Since we are on the topic I started and based on your comments it looks like I will be changing them soon, any insights on cost? I was quoted by local dealer about $440 for the spark plug change alone...Im waiting for call from other dealer. Labor was for 2.2hrs and plugs where like $130 or so...insights?

Since we are on the topic I started and based on your comments it looks like I will be changing them soon, any insights on cost? I was quoted by local dealer about $440 for the spark plug change alone...Im waiting for call from other dealer. Labor was for 2.2hrs and plugs where like $130 or so...insights?

you can buy the plugs online for $11.50 each or $69 a set. BMW plug tool from BMS: $19 :

Since we are on the topic I started and based on your comments it looks like I will be changing them soon, any insights on cost? I was quoted by local dealer about $440 for the spark plug change alone...Im waiting for call from other dealer. Labor was for 2.2hrs and plugs where like $130 or so...insights?

I called my indy. He said (his prices) twenty bucks a plug, under an hour labor. That makes it approximately 120 for the hardware, and under 120 for the labor. His estimate was about a half hour or so labor, so, I am guessing 3/4 hour or 90 bucks. He also said that at 50K, the plugs are often good enough to not need replacement, but they would definitely need to be looked at and have anti-seize applied, since the plug is steel and the engine is aluminum. ( I am not sure about this part, since you are introducing a third metal here, but he says that if people wait too long, like 100K, sometimes the plugs seize).

I called my indy. He said (his prices) twenty bucks a plug, under an hour labor. That makes it approximately 120 for the hardware, and under 120 for the labor. His estimate was about a half hour or so labor, so, I am guessing 3/4 hour or 90 bucks.

Cool! Thanks...wait on Dealer 2 to respond and I will make a educated call then. Car is still under CPO so I really dont want to deal with doing the work myself.

It's been about a year since I did this (and given my medication-fried brain) I don't remember the exact cost. I used Bosch Platinum Plugs from a local parts store; and I believe it took me about two hours to do them all (including removal and re-fiitting of the wonderful plastic cover which obstructs you from being able to see anything under the hood). Took some extra time and replaced the oxygen sensors as well.